Chapter 1352: Female Zoren Pierson

Hours later...

Penny watched the clock like a hawk, and the moment it hit time to clock out, she jumped from her seat.

"I’m done for the day!" she announced, quickly typing on her phone to message her husband.

[To: Love Life]

My love, today was so exhausting. :(( I’m so tired~! Getting off work now. What do you want to eat for dinner? I’ll cook for you! Even though we’re both attending Grace’s birthday dinner.]

A faint giggle escaped her when her phone pinged with a reply.

[From: Love Life]

You.

"Hihihi~" Penny giggled even more. "So mischievous, this husband of mine."

Thinking she could just cook anything for dinner, Penny hummed happily as she gathered her things to head home. She missed her husband — but also her children. If she didn’t get home before Zoren, Renny and Chunchun would end up fighting for attention again. Penny just wanted to play with them for a while before her husband arrived, so they wouldn’t feel neglected. Besides, she had to attend Grace’s birthday dinner.

With that thought in mind, Penny skipped out of her office. But the moment she swung the door open, she flinched, catching sight of Patricia standing motionless outside.

Deep lines formed on Penny’s forehead as she turned to face her. Patricia stood stiffly, her expression strangely formal—like she was preparing to enter a convent. Or heaven.

"You’re still here?" Penny blurted out, watching as Patricia dramatically fluttered her eyelashes at her.

"Of course!" Patricia intoned. "How could I go home when my boss is still working? That just doesn’t sit right with me."

"Boss?"

"Mhm!" Patricia nodded. "Didn’t you just hire me?"

"Uh... I didn’t?"

Patricia blinked, then smiled. "It’s alright. I know you have tons of work, so you forget things. Isn’t that why I’m here? To remind you?"

Penny stared blankly, her brain buffering. Before she could respond, Patricia suddenly rushed forward and grabbed her stuff.

"I’ll carry this for you... boss."

"No." The words barely registered in Penny’s mind, but she instinctively snatched her belongings back. However, Patricia clung to Penny’s handbag even tighter.

"It’s okay," Patricia cooed, pulling at the bag. "Penny, just let me carry your stuff. I know you’re not used to it, but from now on, you have to."

Penny smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. She yanked the bag back. "Let go."

"No, you let go."

"This is my bag, Patricia."

"And I’m your assistant," Patricia argued, pulling harder. "This is my job."

"I never hired you!"

"You did! If you don’t remember, I can remind you!" Patricia cleared her throat. "Earlier, you told me to wait here and that you’d hire me!"

"And fire you!" Penny gasped. "I said it loud and clear!"

"I didn’t hear it, so it doesn’t count."

"Hey!" Penny opened and closed her mouth, at a complete loss. It had been a while since she last hired anyone, but she was certain this was not how it was supposed to go. "Let go, Patricia."

"No!"

"This bag costs millions," Penny stressed, even though the price didn’t really matter to her. Zoren had bought it for her with his own money, so she hadn’t complained about the ridiculous cost. "If it breaks, you’ll be paying for it for years."

Patricia’s breath hitched as she glanced down at the bag caught between them. Now that she was looking at it closely, she realized—it was the exact bag she had once wanted. Back then, she had planned to save up for a year to buy it.

But saving money had never been her strong suit.

"Ahem!" Patricia cleared her throat and straightened up. "Well, you’re the boss. Fine, then."

She carefully released her grip, and Penny let out a relieved sigh. But as soon as she recovered, she shot Patricia a look of disbelief.

"Are you going home now, boss?" Patricia asked, flashing a bright smile. "Should I drive you? Or do you have a driver?"

Penny didn’t answer. She just stared at Patricia like she was some strange creature. After a moment, Penny smacked her lips.

"Patricia, why are you so keen on becoming my assistant?"

"What do you mean, why? You need one!" Patricia replied matter-of-factly. "And I need a job. So here I am."

"You think I’m going to buy that?" Penny deadpanned, crossing her arms. "Patricia, let’s be honest. We never liked each other, and I don’t think the fact that Angel saved your life once changes that. Besides, even if the Miller Company is under my name now, your family is still living in the same luxury as before."

She gave Patricia a flat look. "You have an ulterior motive. Spill it."

"Penny, how can you be so judgmental?!" Patricia whined. "I wasn’t lying when I said I needed a job! And coincidentally, you did blurt out that you needed an assistant! It’s not like I suddenly like you. But let’s be real—no employee actually likes their boss. They do it for the money. And I need money."

Penny just blinked, unimpressed.

Seeing this, Patricia sighed in defeat.

"Fine..." She threw her hands up before turning back to face Penny. "What I said was true. If you hadn’t blurted out that you needed an assistant, I wouldn’t have thought of it. But after thinking it over—and overhearing some conversations at the Miller Company—I realized something."

Penny raised a brow. "Oh? And what’s that?"

"You’re like a female Zoren Pierson!" Patricia declared dramatically.

"Huh?"

"Penny, if I stay in the Miller Company as an errand girl, I’ll never climb the corporate ladder. I’ll be ancient before I get a decent position! But if I take this opportunity, I’ll be the executive assistant to the female Zoren Pierson. My calling card will be impressive and I can brag about it."

Patricia’s eyes gleamed. "And your social circle is amazing. Who knows? If I stick around, I might meet a handsome, successful, filthy rich husband who’ll spoil me rotten!"

Penny stared, unamused.

Patricia clasped her hands together with a dreamy sigh. "Besides... if you die, the first in line to the throne is the person closest to the CEO — me!"

"...I’m definitely not hiring you." Penny shook her head. That was the last straw. Without another word, she waved dismissively and walked off.

"Wait—Penny!" Patricia gasped, running after her. "Come on! Just give me a chance!"

Penny ignored her, pulling out her phone. "Yugi, post a job ad for an assistant role. I need one. ASAP."